Jogging device



Feb. 8, 1944.

F. E. CURTIS JOGGING DEVICE Original Filed Nov. 17, 1.941

5 Sheets-Shet 1 IN VEN TOR.

Ftib. 8, 1944. -n5 2,341,021

JOGGING DEVICE Original Filed Nov. 1'7, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 8, 1944. F. E. CURTIS 2,341,021

JOGGING DEVICE Original Filed Nov. 1'7, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 3 @wla, Few/9 I machine.

Patented Feb. 8, 1944 JOGGING DEVICE Franklin E. Curtis, Willoughby, Ohio, asslgnor to Addressograph-Multigraph Corporation, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Original application November 17, 1941, Serial No. 419,453. Divided and this application August 20, 1942, Serial No. 455,422

Claims.

This invention relates to an'apparatus for jogging sheets of paper into an aligned stack, acting on the sheets successively as they are received from a suitable source, as for instance a printing This application is a division of my copending application, Serial No. 419,453, filed November 17, 1941, for a sheet stacking mechanism.

In general, the object of the invention is to provide efiicient and reliable mechanism for jogging the sheets one at a time as they are received at the top of the stack, and, adjusting the edges of the sheets to make a stack with aligned edges.

A further object of this invention is to provide a jogger for a pile of sheets which will jog the sheets as they are fed successively to the pile which may be lowered to maintain the top of the pile at a substantially constant elevation, and which jogger mechanism will be rugged, eflicient, and at the same time have its various parts positioned substantially within the outline of the pile lowering mechanism, thus providing a compact structure.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description relating to the accompanying drawings, which illustrates a preferred embodiment of the invention. The essential characteristics of the invention will be summarized in the claims.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a sectional side elevation of my jogging device associated with a portion of a suitable supply for the sheets, the plane of the section being indicated by the line in Fig. 2; Fig. 2 is a plan, partly broken away, of the jogging device; Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the device; Fig. 4 is a detail in side elevation of gearing for changing the elevation of the stack receiver.

In Figs. 1 and 2, I0 indicates a series of end-- less belts adapted to bring the sheets to the jogging device about to be described. These belts pass around a pair of rollers l l and 2|, the former of which is mounted in a machine which delivers the sheets, the frame of which is indicated at I2, and the latter of which is mounted in the frame of the jogging machine. These two frames are secured together temporarily or otherwise to hold the two in proper relation, as indicated in Fig. 1.

Fig. 1 shows a rotary cam 15, on the machine which delivers the sheets, operating a rock lever Hi from which a link I'I leads to the jogging device. It is to be understood that the cam makes it may travel on the floor to transfer the completed stack. When in the jogging machine, the

. truck rests on a horizontal U-shaped frame. 33

vertically guided on the channel beams by wheels 34 on each side entering the channels. The frame 33 is supported by a pair of sprocket chains 35 which extend over sprocket wheels 36 and 31 and carry counter weights 38 at their far ends to aid in balancing the stack.

Suitable means, not completely shown, are provided for lowering the stack receiver as the stack builds up from the successive sheets delivered. This lowering mechanism may be of the form shown, described and claimed in my parent application 419,453, where the amount of lowering corresponds automatically to the thickness of the sheets delivered.

The stack receiver may also be raised or lowered manually whenever desired. The drawings indicate the crank 40 for this purpose formed with a dog clutch 4| to connect it, when shoved axially, with gearing (within a gear casing 42) which operates to rotate a shaft 50 carrying the two sprocket wheels 31.

As shown in the Figures 2 and 4, the clutch 4| is rigid with a pinion 43 which meshes with an idler gear 44 loose on the end of a transverse shaft 50. This idler gear meshes with a pinion 45 rigid with a bevel gear 46 which meshes with a bevel gear 41 on the shaft of a worm 48. This worm meshes with a worm gear 49 tight on the shaft 50, which carries the sprocket wheels 31.

It follows from the gearing mentioned that the worm holds the stack receiver against change of position but allows it to be raised or lowered by rotation of the crank as may be desired. In my parent application means are shown for gradually operating the gearing described to lower the platform an amount corresponding to the thickness of the sheets being delivered, and such is the preferable way to lower the receiving platform; however, the platform may be lowered manually at intervals as the stack builds up by operation of the crank through mechanism described.

Taking up now the description of the jogger proper, the sheets as delivered by the belts ID on top of the stack (indicated by A in Fig. l) are limited'by the abutment plate 60. This plate at its upper end embraces a cross bar 8| adjustably carried by frame bars 82 rigid with the frame 28.

The sheets are stacked against the abutment 80 by a Jogger plate I0. This jogger plate is mounted on the left hand end of the link Il (Fig.1) heretofore described as being reciprocated by a cam I8. It will be noted from the drawings that as this plate 10 moves from its retracted or full line position into its active position or toward the dotted line position, it not only moves toward the abutment 80 but also moves upwardly, by reason of the free end being supported by the rock arm 'II on the transverse rock shaft I2. Such movement is highly advantageous in that it tends to lift the unstacked sheets upward, freeing them somewhat from the stacked sheets, thus materially assisting in the jogging of the sheets into position by the jogger plate I and also by a second jogger plate 80 which positions the sheets transversely of the stack, as is about to be described. This arrangement has been found to eliminate for practical purposes the tendency of the freshly printed sheets to smudge consequent upon the jogging action and prevents damage to the edges of the sheets upon being contacted by the moving jogger plates, probably due to the ease with which the sheets are moved.

A jogger 80 which aligns or stacks the sheets transversely of the stack comprises a plate-like member which is secured as by a set screw 8| to a cross rod 82 slidably mounted in the plate 20 for axial movement.

The rod 82 and consequently the jogger plate 80 is reciprocated transversely of the stack A.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, a lever 90 is secured to the shaft 12 which is rocked by the cam I5 as heretofore described. This lever is connected by a link 9i to one end of a bell crank 92 which is pivotally mounted on the frame plate 20 as at 93. The other end of the bellcrank 92 is provided with a yoke 94 which enters a slot in the end of the reciprocable rod 82 and engages a pin 85 passing through such rod, thus transmitting the oscillating movement of the shaft I2 into a reciprocating movement of the rod 82.

. The Jogger plate 80 moves the sheets into contact with a similar but normally stationary plate or abutment I00. This plate is adjustably secured to a stationary rod IOI by a set screw I02 and is provided with an opening I03 to clear the reciprocating rod 82. Similarly, the

. jogger plate 80 is provided with an opening I04 to clear the stationary rod IOI.

It will be noted that both the jogger 80 and the abutment plate I00 are mounted above the forward end of the stack and extend downward to the stack and then rearwardly a considerable distance from their supporting rods, whereby they may be adjusted to practically any position transversely of the machine and may accommodate a considerable range in sheet widths. Torsional stressing of the respective rods 82 and IIII, due to the cantilever form of the jogger and abutment plate which are secured thereto, is avoided by the use of forward extensions of the latter members carrying rollers IIIl engaging the under surface of a guiderail III extending across the stacker.

The rearmost abutment 60 has projections on its lower edge which may enter the grooves H2 formed in the platform heretofore described and thus insure engagement of the first sheets to be fed. Engagement of the associated jogger plate I0 is likewise insured by a recess H3 in versely of -a cross bar GI.

the end of the platform (Fig. 1). Engagement of the transverse jogger plates with the first sheets to be fed may be insured by providing the platform 28 with grooves similar to the grooves H2 and the plates with lips to project into the grooves. However, for most types of work sheets, the arrangement shown is satisfactory and hence illustration of these additional precautions has been omitted for clarity of the drawings.

It has been found advantageous to journal one of the delivery belt rollers II in the printing machine frame plates I2 and the other roller 2I in the stacker frame plates 28, as heretofore described. This facilitates proper progress of the printed sheet to a pair of coacting feed rolls I20-l2I carried by the stacker. The lower one of these rolls, I20. is Journalled in the frame plates 20 and is provided with a geared connection, indicated at I22, in Fig. 1, with the left hand belt roller 2I. The upper roll I2I may comprise a series of short rolls each carried by a bracket I23 pivoted to a cross rod I24 in such a manner as to cause the rolls I2I to rest lightly on the roll I20.

The rolls I20I2I feed the sheet to the left (Fig. 1) and cause it to strike th abutment 60 adjustably mounted for movement trans- The rolls I20-I2I serve not only to insure the completion of the feeding of the printed sheet onto the stack A, but also serve to limit the rate of travel of such sheet and thereby prevent any injury to the end of the sheet from contacting with the abutment 60 with undue force. The sheet being delivered through the air engages the abutment and rebounds slightly so that the rear edge overhangs the stack just/at the time that the jogger plate I0 is rising and moving toward the stack, with the result that the latter plate properly positions the top sheet without literally sliding it in contact with the preceding sheet, which might cause smudging.

The jogging machine described is self contained on its own frame so that it is a very simple matter either to attach the jogger or disconnect it when it is not to be used, it being merely necessary to install or remove a few bolts, the delivery belts, and the link I I.

The support for the sheet delivery rolls and the side joggers and the mechanism for operating the table are all located within a comparatively small region adjacent the receiving end, so that the frame of the jogger is comparatively compact, the entire frame with the exception of the support for the front abutment extending only slightly farther than the guides for the stack support, which are approximately in the central region of the side of the stack. One of the factors enabling this condensed frame is the cantilever form of th side joggers which are rendered eflicient and easily operable by the peculiar mounting and the anti-friction guiding of the joggers by the under running rollers on the other side of the jogger supports. This condensed frame enables the truck, when it has descended to the floor with its stack, to be very accessible for withdrawal from themachine.

I claim:

1. In a jogging mechanism for a sheet stacking apparatus, the combination of a frame, a table carried by the frame to support a stack of sheets, two parallel rods carried by the frame above the table, one of said rods being fixed relative to the frame, and the other rod being movable axially, and two plates each having openings through which the two rods extend, and means for locking one plate to one rod and the other plate to the other rod, said plates depending into position respectively to engage opposite sides of the sheet at the top of the stack.

2. In a jogging mechanism for a sheet stack apparatus, the combination of a frame comprising two spaced vertical plates, a table carried by the frame between said plates, two parallel rods extending across the space between said plates, on of the rods being fixed to the plates and the other rod mounted in the plates for axial movement, and two depending sheetaligning plates, one adjustably secured to one of the rods and the other adjustably secured to the other rod.

3. In a jogging mechanism for a sheet stacking apparatus, the combination of a frame, a table carried by the frame to support a stack of sheets, an axially shiftable rod mounted in the frame, and a depending plate adjustably mounted on said rod and adapted to engage one side of the sheet at the top of the stack, said plate projecting forwardly so that gravity tends to cause it to swing downwardly about the axis of the rod, and a fixed guide carried by the frame said plate on the other side of the rod carrying a member movably engaging the under surface of said fixed guide. 7

4. In a jogger mechanism for a sheet stacking apparatus, a frame, a table carried by said frame to support a stack -of sheets, two parallel bars carried by said frame above said table, one of said bars being fixed relative to said frame and the second bar being movable axially, a pair of plates carried by said bars and movable axially thereof, one of said plates being adjustably secured to said fixed bar, and the other plate being 7 adjustably secured to the movable bar, means to reciprocate said movable bar, a guideway, antifriction means carried by said movable plate and engaging said guideway.

5. In a jogger mechanism'for a sheet stacking apparatus, a frame, a table carried by said frame to support a stack of sheets, two parallel bars carried by said frame above said table, one of said bars being fixed relative to said frame and being adjustably fixed to the axially movable bar and movably mounted relative to the other bar. means to reciprocate said movable bar, a third bar parallel to said other bars and spaced forwardly thereof, and a roller carried by each of said members and arranged to engage the under surface of said last named bar to facilitate relative movement between the jogger members and the bars.

'1. A jogging mechanism for a sheet stacker comprising a support adapted to support a stack of sheets and be lowered as the stack increases, an abutment to locate one vertical edge of the stack, a movable member adapted to act against the opposite end of the top sheet to move it substantially in its own plane into engagement with the abutment, said movable member being carried independently of the support for the stack and back from the edge of the stack, and means for moving said movable member toward the stack and at the same time raising it bodily, to

lift the rear end of the top sheet free from the stack irrespectively of the position of the stack support.

8. In a jogger mechanism for a sheet stacker, the combination of a sheet receiving table, a relatively fixed abutment positioned to locate one vertical edge of a stack of sheets, means to adjustably position said abutment relative to said table, a jogger member movable toward and from the edge of a stack of sheets opposite said abutment, a movable side abutment at right angles to said relatively fixed abutment, a rock shaft, mechanism between the side abutment and the rock shaft such that the turning of the rock shaft may move the side abutment toward the stack, an

.upwardly extending arm secured to the rock shaft and inclining away from the stack, and a reciprocating driving link connected to the rock arm, said jogger member being mounted on said link to be moved inwardly and upwardly thereby,

9. In a jogging mechanism for a sheet stacking I apparatus, the combination of a frame comprising two spaced side plates, a stack supported between the side plates and movable downwardly,

' an abutment plate to engage one side of the the second bar being movable axially, a pair of plates carried by said bars and movable axially thereof, one of said plates being adjustably secured to said fixed bar and the other plate being adjustably secured to the movable bar, means to reciprocate said movable bar, a third bar secured to said frame parallel with said other bars and spaced therefrom, anti-friction means carried by said plates and engaging said last-named bar whereby each plate is supported by the one of the first named bars, and is freely movable axially relative to the other of said first named bars.

6. In a sheet stacking apparatus, a frame, a table, carried by said frame to support a stack of sheets, two parallel bars carried by said frame and positioned above the forward portion of the stack supported by said table, one of said bars being fixed to said frame and the other bar being stack, an abutment plate to engage one'end of the stack, two movable abutment plates to engage the other side and other end of the stack, an axially shiftable rod mounted in the side plates and extending across the space between them, the movable side abutment plate being axially adiustable on said rod. a reciprocable member to which the movable end abutment plate is attached, and mechanism connecting the reciprocabie member with the axially shiftable rod to cause such axial shifting consequent upon the movement of the reciprocable member.

10. In a jogging mechanism for a sheet stacking apparatus the combination of the frame, a stack support within the frame, means for lowering the stack support, fixed adjustable stationary plates adapted to form abutments for two adjacent sides of the stack, two movable plates to engage the other two sides of the stack. an axially shiftable rod on which one of said movable plates is adjustabiy mounted, a rock shaft, a rock-arm FRANKLDIECUR'HB. 

